Lauren Olamina:
The narrator and the main character of the novel. She is a young girl living in a walled-in community as the preacher’s daughter, and she creates her own religion as she believes the Baptist faith cannot encourage people to take action. Lauren is burdened by her Hyperempathy syndrome, which means she can feel the pain and pleasure of others. This makes it hard, yet necessary for her to kill others who are a danger to her group.
Reverend Olamina:
Lauren’s father and leader of the Robledo community. He is dedicated to educating the community and keeping morale through faith. He trains community members on the usage of firearms, but seems to be in a state of denial about when the threat will come to the community. He goes missing after leaving his job at the college and is presumed dead days later.
Corazon Olamina:
Lauren’s stepmother. She is in denial about the state of the country and is hoping for the good days to return soon. She is protective of her family, but her favorite child is Keith. She seems to have some resentment for Lauren because she is the child of the Reverend’s first wife. Cory dies while trying to escape with her children after the massacre of the community.
Keith Olamina
Lauren’s oldest half-brother. He is eager to get out of his father’s shadow and prove that he can be a man who will provide for his family. He starts sneaking out of the neighborhood and getting involved with gangs. This allows him to bring money home to Cory, to his father’s dismay. He believes that killing and stealing is a natural part of survival and success. He begins to avoid the home when he is beaten by his father, which strains the relationship between Cory, the Reverend, and Lauren. He is later found killed outside the neighborhood.
Harry Balter
A young white man who is one of the only survivors of the Robledo neighborhood. He falls in love with Zahra Moss and does anything he can to protect her. He is wary of Lauren because of her hyperempathy and her perceived eagerness to kill. He is hesitant to settle at Acorn, but is eventually convinced because of the sense of community and his reluctant belief in Earthseed.
Zahra Moss
The youngest wife of Richard Moss; she was sold to him by her mother at 15 years old after living in poverty her entire life. She is also one of the only survivors of the Robledo community, and her knowledge of the outside world is useful for their survival. She becomes Lauren’s friend and supporter of Earthseed in exchange for reading lessons from Lauren.
Taylor Franklin Bankole
A 57-year-old doctor who is traveling to his sister’s estate in Cape Mendocino. His wife died 5 years prior after being beaten by thieves. Bankole asks important questions about Earthseed and helps Lauren develop a plan for the group. He falls in love with her and they begin to have romantic relations.
Travis Charles and Natividad Douglas
Former servants on a rich couple’s property who decided to travel north to escape sexual harrassment. Natividad exhibits maternal instincts to her child Dominic and the other children of the group. Travis is inquisitive about Earthseed. They are the first couple to join the Robledo survivors.
Allie and Jill Gilchrist
Two sisters in their mid-twenties who escape prostitution and their alcoholic, abusive father. Allie’s child was killed by her father, which prompted the sisters to burn their house down with their father inside. Allie becomes the adopted mother of Justin, and Jill is murdered while trying to protect Tori from attackers.
Emery Tanaka and Tori Solis
A mixed Japanese/Black woman and her daughter who escaped debt slavery in a company town. Her two young sons were taken after her older husband died and she could not afford to live at the company without running into debt. Emery is also a “sharer,” with hyperempathy. Sharers are highly valued by corrupt companies.
Grayson and Doe Mora
Grayson is also mixed Black/Lantino debt slave from a corrupt corporation. His daughter, Doe, befriends Tori which leads them to join the group. He is reluctant and standoffish but his protectiveness of his daughter shows the group that he is trustworthy. He is also a “sharer”, which leads to a bond between him and Emery.
